Alavés vs Villarreal: A battle of contrasting needs kicks off Matchday 28 at Mendizorroza
Matchday 28 of LaLiga EA Sports kicks off tonight with a cracker in Vitoria. Deportivo Alavés host Villarreal at Mendizorroza (9:00 PM local time, 2:00 PM in Mexico City) with two completely different perspectives on the season, but one shared urgency: winning. Quique Sánchez Flores' men need points to keep clear of the relegation zone, while Marcelino's Yellow Submarine are looking to solidify their Champions League spot and keep dreaming of a top-three finish.
The Quique effect and the need for El Glorioso
A new boss is at the Alavés helm. Following Eduardo Coudet's departure to River Plate, Quique Sánchez Flores takes over at a critical moment. His debut at Mestalla was bittersweet: the team competed well but let victory slip away in injury time against Valencia. Tonight marks his home debut in front of the Mendizorroza faithful, and the message is clear: turn the stadium into a cauldron.
The home side are on a five-game winless run and sit just two points above the drop zone. Injuries and suspensions aren't helping: Jon Pacheco and Ander Guevara are banned, and Carlos Protesoni joins the injury list. But if this team has one thing, it's character, and at home against big sides, they usually show their fight. They do welcome back Víctor Parada and Pablo Ibáñez, who will be key to shoring up the defence.
The Yellow Submarine wants to keep making history
On the other side of the coin is a flying Villarreal. Level on 54 points with Atlético Madrid in third place, Marcelino's team is having a storming season. The objective is clear: secure that ticket to next season's Champions League as soon as possible. With an 11-point cushion over fifth-placed Betis, the margin is comfortable, but nobody in the dressing room is getting complacent.
That said, Mendizorroza has historically been a tough nut to crack for the Submarine. Their last win in Vitoria came in the 2019-20 season, and since then, it's been all bitter memories. For tonight, Marcelino gets a boost with Willy Kambwala being included in the squad after nearly eight months out injured. A massive morale injection for the defence, although Logan Costa, Juan Foyth, and left-sided player Ayoze Pérez remain unavailable.
Key battles: What to look out for
- The Mendizorroza factor: Alavés will lean heavily on their fans. They're usually a much tougher proposition at home, and with Quique coming in, expect an organised, physical block, likely a 5-3-2 looking to do damage on the counter.
- Yellow firepower: Going forward, Villarreal are a real threat. With 50 goals scored, the duo of Nicolas Pépé and Mikautadze is one of the league's most feared. Give them space, and they'll punish you.
- Second balls: With both defences depleted (Alavés missing starting centre-backs, Villarreal with key absentees), the game is going to be stretched. Whoever wins the second balls and brings the most intensity will likely come out on top.
- Recent history: Although Villarreal won the reverse fixture 3-1 earlier in the season, Alavés pulled off a 1-0 home win last season. El Glorioso know how to grind out results and win at their stadium.
Prediction and how to watch in Mexico
I'll stick my neck out: this one smells like a game with little fluency and plenty of tension. Villarreal have the stronger squad on paper, but Mendizorroza will be hostile, and Quique Flores knows how to set up a stubborn side. If Alavés can weather the first 20 minutes without conceding, things could get messy. My gut says a 1-2 away win, but I wouldn't be surprised by a draw that leaves both sides feeling like they dropped points.
For the fans in Mexico, you can catch the live action this Friday from 2:00 PM (Central Time) on Sky Sports and Blue To Go. Get ready for a clash of contrasting needs where the first to blink, loses.